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Max grabs one too, and I follow by his side. My stride slows as I notice the intricate detail in the room. The outside looked like an old museum, but the inside looks like a castle. Small designs are chiseled into the ceiling. The drapes cover most of it, but it’s stunning.
“What’s the plan?” I whisper to Max.
“Well, I’m going to eat,” he says with a grin. He grabs a plate of fruit from the table next to the bar. I hate how he isn’t taking this seriously. Giovanni is married to his sister—he should care more, right? If he doesn’t, Mikhail is still involved, and I know he cares for him.
I stare at the table of food. It’s strange how fruit reminds me of Mikhail. I never thought I’d associate something as simple as fruit with a person, but I can’t help but think about all the breakfasts we shared together. “Now we wait. I think Mikhail will play the game tonight.”
I make a face and step in front of him. “What game?”
“The murder mystery. I guess we’ll see if he makes the game realistic or not.”
I hit him in the arm. “Max, this isn’t a game!”
“Everything is a game.”
After nearly half an hour, more people show up. It’s going to be one hell of a night if there are this many people playing the game.
A man with a mask covering half his face comes over to me and hands me a flute of champagne. I take it from him and lift it up as a thank-you, taking small sips as the music fades and someone clears their throat in the mic.
“Hello, everyone!”
It sounds like Giovanni. He’s wearing a mask too. That means Mikhail hasn’t gotten to him just yet. He should be here.
I scan the room, but everyone looks the same.
“I know I’m not the person who normally speaks up about the rules of the game, but tonight is to celebrate my wife, Nina, and me. We’re going to carry on the tradition as we found our love through a night like this. The beauty of love is much deeper than one’s appearance. It’s who the person is at their core that we fall in love with.” He takes a moment to glance around the room. “We have two murderers tonight, and it’s our job to catch them before they kill other people. Please take a moment to open your envelopes.”
I take the card out and rip the top of it open.
I’m innocent.
Thank God.
“Be careful out there. As Nina’s father would say, ‘Be wary, watch your back, learn who to trust.’”
Laughter fills the room.
“To Nina!”
Everyone lifts their glasses in the air in a toast. I do the same.
Max smiles and leans into me. “I’ll tell you what I am if you tell me what you are.” He squints his eyes at me.
“Max, please. This is serious.”
“Sloane, he’s not going to kill Giovanni. That would declare war. Mikhail’s not stupid.”
“We need to find him.”
“We will. Once you tell me what you are.”
I roll my eyes and hold my card out to him, and he does the same. We’re both innocent.
He sighs with relief. “Oh, good.”
“Ready?” I ask him.
“Wait—I want to get a drink first.”
